5 Solutions For Excess Skin After Weight Loss

You did it. You logged the woman-hours at the gym and stocked your fridge with enough kale and Greek yogurt to slenderize an elephant. Or maybe you went under the knife and are now putting in major effort to maintain. Regardless, the numbers on the scale are at super-satisfying lows. There's just one teensy, tiny (ahem, giant, looming) issue: Your skin didn't get the "I've got a new body now" memo.

Kelly Coffey's skin sure didn't. Coffey, a personal trainer, wound up with some serious excess after losing 170 pounds from gastric bypass surgery. "It happened very quickly; I was sort of shocked at how much there was," she says.

For her own body, Coffey went the tummy-tuck route for extra skin around her midsection and amped up her weight-lifting routine for her arms, legs, and back. (Looking for a total-body toning workout that will fit into your busy schedule? How does 10 minutes a day sound? Try Prevention's Fit in 10 DVD today!) But which route is right for you? Here are 5 ways to deal with loose skin—surgical and not—after a serious drop in pounds.

Embrace the Weights

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Sadly, gaining muscle isn't going to actually remove any extra skin. But toning up could help you appear more taut after weight loss. The heavier the weights you lift, the better, suggests Coffey. (Here are 10 of the best strength-training moves for women over 50.) "Don't be afraid to lift heavy weights; it takes a lot less time to achieve the same degree of muscle with heavier weights, and the quicker I built muscle, the faster I toned up," says Coffey. To make sure you're doing it correctly and safely, enlist a professional's guidance when you're first starting out.

Update Your Support System

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Don't worry; we don't want you to get new friends. (Unless they're totally toxic—but that's another story.) A great bra and panties can go a long way, suggests Claudine DeSola, a stylist at Caravan Stylist Studios in New York. "Good intimates are a great way of helping conceal excess skin in the belly area," says DeSola. Opt for bras with front closures and thicker bands, which give a cleaner, smoother look to your back. Trade in your bikini-cut panties for some high-cut briefs while you're at it, and don't shy away from Spanx—they'll make everything feel a bit more secure, says DeSola. (Thanks, Tina Fey, for showing we don't have to be ashamed to enlist a little Lycra every now and then.)

Come Out of Hiding Don't you want to congratulate yourself with an updated wardrobe? Have fun with form-fitting layers, suggests DeSola. "A slightly fitted tee with a sweater on top and a thick belt is a great way to cinch your waist," says DeSola. Mid-rise jeans are another great option—ones that hit right below the belly button are the sweet spot for a perfect fit. Looking for something a bit more fun? Try a wrap dress in a bold color like red. It should hit at (or just below) the knee, and pairing it with heels will make your legs look longer and leaner.

Ditch the Negativity

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Fact: Losing a ton of weight won't automatically reserve you a spot on the Victoria's Secret runway (and let's be real—would you want to perpetuate that skinny ideal anyway?). "When we lose weight, we're not headed toward a different body; we're headed toward a smaller body," Coffey says. Instead of hating on that extra skin, wear it as a badge of honor—you made a commitment to living a healthier, more active life, and loose skin is just proof that you did what so many other people have trouble doing. "Excess skin isn't the terrible tragedy that so many of us think it will be; it's just another one of the details about your body that makes you you," says Coffey. It's a symbol of your journey—and that's something to be proud of.

Make Like a Snake When it comes to excess skin after weight loss, the hard, cold truth is that going under the knife is the only surefire way to totally get rid of it. And if you've tried everything else and still aren't even remotely satisfied with your appearance (or if your extra skin is getting irritated), it's probably time to talk with a plastic surgeon about your options. Extra stuff around the midsection can be removed through an abdominoplasty—also known as a tummy tuck—according to Raul Rosenthal, MD, president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. "Because the skin has stretched over so many years, it's very difficult for that skin to go back to where it was before; it will not return to its natural consistency or elasticity," says Rosenthal. According to him, patients who undergo plastic surgery following extreme weight loss not only experience a better quality of life, but they're also more likely to keep the weight off. One last note: Before you choose to shed your skin for good, make sure you talk to your insurance provider, as most don't cover such procedures.

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